Travelers to Paris France should use a little more caution when they use their expensive cell phones in public. Several reports have come to light of muggings in Paris, with cell phones being the current number one target for being ripped right out of your hands - this is occurring not just at night when you would assume that these occurrences would be higher, but during the day too. Many of the police reports has highlighted the thefts occurring at metro stations. In a recent publicized crime, one recent cell phone case mugging went terribly wrong. At the Etienne Marcel metro station (central Paris), a young thief tried to rip the cell phone out of one woman’s hand on the platform in the middle of the day. The women fought back, however the thief pushed her to the ground and ran off. As the thief ran up the metro stairs to the exit, he shoved a 27-year-old woman out of his way, causing her to fall and fracture her skull on the steps. She never regained consciousness before dying that night in the hospital.
Video of a victim who had his iPhone stolen in Paris by way of the famous "petition scam" Watch this video so you will be prepared if you run into the same scam
Paris police and the RATP have confirmed that there has been a sharp rise in muggings involving cell phones being grabbed out of victims’ hands, both on the metro platforms and on the streets. "You wouldn’t walk around on the street holding four hundred euro bills in front of you, would you?" said a local Paris police officer who has investigated theft of cell phones from those visiting Paris metro stations. "You need to look at using your expensive cell phone in public the same way." Both visitors and residents of Paris should be more cautious about where and when they pull out their phones in public. It may seem totally safe because “everyone’s using theirs too” and it’s “the middle of the day in a nice neighborhood”, but it only takes one second for someone who is more desperate than you to hit and run. The brochure to the right is being handed out by Paris police to alert people to the risks of cell phones being snatched out of the hands of people.
Obviously another location which people need pay extra attention to are sidewalk cafes. These too have been the subject of numerous theft reports where young thieves have simply grabbed expensive cell phones cafe tables, right in front of their owners. By the time you get out of your seat, the 16 year old track star thief is 1/2 down the block and out of your sight.
Here are a few cell phone security tips you may want to consider when traveling abroad - or here at home too for that matter.
Have a backup plan if your phone is stolen
If your whole bag is stolen with your phone and your wallet, life quickly gets more complicated. And not just the number to cancel the phone service and block your SIM (for French phones, make sure you have written down your ESN and IMEI numbers; if you don’t know it, just type into your phone: *#06# and it will display on the phone). You’ll also want to backup those important phone numbers somewhere at home or on your computer (am I the only human who also still uses an actual phone book with handwritten names and numbers?) Many people don’t memorize their closest friends’ and family members’ telephone numbers anymore, so having a backup is good in case of emergency. All credit cards have free international collect-call numbers, write them down. To make a free collect call (assuming the person on the other end accepts the call), dial the AT&T access number (free from any phone in France: 0800-99-0011).
Cell phone theft insurance - May not cover your your loss of your smart phone
Check your cell phone insurance contract carefully. Some cheap cell phone insurance plans have exceptions that may not pay a theft claim. In some cases, cell phone insurance plans will only pay for claims when the cell phone theft involves someone "physically pulling the cell phone out of the users hand" and WILL NOT pay for claims if the cell phone is stolen out of your pockets or purse - as most commonly done by pickpockets. Other cell phone insurance companies will not cover loss of cell phones if the theft occurs outside of the United States - another insult on top of the injury. In the end, it is up to the the travelers to know what is and is not covered when it comes to cell phone insurance and you don't want to find this out after your cell phone is stolen - especially when it comes to the replacement of a $400.00 smart phone. Many owners forget that if they have to buy a new cell phone during their existing contract - they will have to pay the full price to replace it. The customary $100 to $100 cell phone discount is only applied when you renew your cell phone contract.
Don’t forget to file that police report if your smart phone is stolen
If you’re a resident, you will need to file the report for insurance purposes, and to replace any stolen ID cards. If you’re a visitor, you may need the report to show your insurance company at home or the Embassy to have your card replaced. I encourage everyone to file a report even if they don’t have to, because it helps the police get accurate information on crime statistics and what areas of Paris need more policing. And, heck, how many of your friends can say they’ve been inside a French police station? They’re actually very nice, in my experience, and you get to leave with the souvenir document of your “story” with the official police stamp, in French. The declaration can be made at any any Paris police station or commissariat. If you don’t speak French, they will try to find someone who can help translate (or at least speak Franglais to you). If you live in Paris, you may want to follow the Prefecture de Police on Twitter, as they post alerts on the most troublesome areas or particular scams making the rounds.
For Paris visitors, stop carrying things you don’t need
Take everything out of your wallet or purse that isn’t necessary, especially if it can’t be replaced easily. Personal photos, gym membership cards, your work ID badge, drivers license (an American drivers license isn’t recognized as official identification in France, so if you’re not renting a car, you don’t need to carry it around). Leave all of this stuff at home, or put it in the hotel safe with your passport (just carry a photocopy of your passport unless you’re sure you need it for something specific). There is rarely ever a time when visitors need to show identification in Paris. The French don’t require any ID when paying with credit cards (because everyone but America has PIN-secured cards now, they don’t rely on signatures). If you don’t have an in-room safe, use your own suitcase with a combination padlock as a last-resort safe place to lock up your belongings.
If you really want to be prepared, or if you’re only visiting Paris, you should also make a list of every card and ID you have with the account number, emergency contact number, and customer service number.
When your wallet is stolen - you will remember most of your major credit cards - however what about all of the other cards in your wallet that you don't want in the wrong hands. Many times you will not remember all of these cards until you return home and spend much time going through your files to find the account numbers and contact info. Keep these numbers on file somewhere you can access via internet - obviously an encrypted folder that will be difficult to hack into - so they can be accessed when needed overseas. Keeping a printout of these numbers with you when traveling is ideal (separate from the wallet/purse, of course). It’s also a good idea to have the emergency number of your embassy for any country you’re traveling to, in case you lose your passport (ie: US Embassy in Paris).
Don’t forget that your expensive cell phone looks just like cash to a thief.
Travelers should be alert to the security of their cell phones and several cell phone security products are available to help protect cell phones from theft. While these cell phone security products may not prevent a cell phone from being snatched out of your hand when being used, many cell phone security pouches and bags are made to prevent them from being removed without your knowledge. To view several cell phone and smart phone security products - visit this cell phone security web page.
Our site contains over 100 pages of travel safety tips and security tips that are useful for any traveler. You will find tips involving luggage theft, avoiding pickpockets, laptop theft, hotel burglary, and airplane, train, automobile, and boat travel crimes.
